This weeknight friendly version of Italian Meatballs features oven-baked beef meatballs with fresh basil and a luscious homemade tomato sauce. Simple, comforting and ready in just about 30 minutes.

These Italian Meatballs are inspired by traditional methods and ingredients but contain no egg or dairy. The meatballs are baked, not fried so that means less active time in the kitchen and an easier cleanup. The sauce is simple and versatile so you can serve it up with pasta, polenta or a crusty baguette.

I’m so excited to have partnered with one of my favorite brands, DeLallo Foods to bring you this meatball recipe! I’ve been using DeLallo’s pasta and authentic Italian products for years. When it comes to the classics, high-quality, ingredients are a must. DeLallo has consistently offered me the freshest and most flavorful-packed products to use in my recipes.

Ingredients in Italian Meatballs & Homemade Tomato Sauce

Full ingredient list with amounts and instructions at the bottom of the page

Ground beef: For a leaner meatball, I like to use 96% lean ground beef. However, 85-90% is more traditional.

Breadcrumbs: Since this is a abbreviated version of the classic recipe, we’ll use panko breadcrumbs here to keep it quick and easy. Italian breadcrumbs also work well if you have them!

Onion & garlic: A staple in any Italian-inspired recipe. Grated onion keeps the meatballs moist while chopped onion and garlic adds flavor to the tomato sauce.

Fresh basil: A little fresh basil adds so much flavor to the meatballs and it even infuses the sauce. If you can’t get your hands on fresh basil, dried works too. Fresh parsley is also a suitable substitute.

Dried Oregano: Fresh works too if you have it!

Extra virgin olive oil: For sautéing the aromatics in the tomato sauce.

DeLallo Passata Tomato Pureé: Skip the hassle of pureeing and straining your own tomatoes with passata. DeLallo’s tomato purée is silky smooth and the fresh flavor makes the meatballs taste even more delicious.

Tomato paste: Adds another layer of richness to the tomato sauce. Try to find one that comes packaged in tube as these tend to be the most flavorful.

How to Make Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

First step: make the meatballs! Combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, herbs, onion and salt. Use a spoon or your hands (I like to wear plastic gloves) to combine the meat mixture. Try not to overwork the meat or it will turn out dense and tough.

Next, drizzle a little olive oil on your hands. Divide the mixture into about 8 evenly sized portions and roll into balls.

Place the meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. They will not be fully cooked at this point. Baking just creates a little browning on the outside and saves us the trouble of pan-frying.

While the meatballs bake, throw together a quick homemade tomato sauce. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil. Add some tomato paste and passata then season with salt. The sauce is pretty simple so high-quality ingredients go a long way here.

Finally, plop in those par baked meatballs and bring everything to a gentle simmer. Cook for at least another 10-15 minutes or until the meatballs are no longer pink in the center.

Serve Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce over spaghetti or your favorite cut of pasta. For a lighter meal, skip the pasta and serve the meatballs with some arugula and a drizzle of good olive oil.

More Easy Meatball Recipes to Try:

• Lemon Thyme Meatballs with Pumpkin Risotto
• Harissa Meatballs with Fregola and Lemony Yogurt
• Baked Meatballs with Creamy Rice
• Ginger Peach Meatballs

Made this recipe?Tag @wandering_chickpea on Instagram to be featured in my stories and follow along on Pinterest for more delicious recipes!

This post is sponsored by DeLallo Foods. Thank you for supporting brands I love!